People are created in the image of Allah

In Islam, we believe that all people have been created in the “image” of Allah. But what does this mean?

Allah is the creator of everything, including all people. That people are in the “image of Allah” means they are in the form that He has chosen and honored for them, not that they resemble Allah or share in the Divine Essence. Just as we say a righteous person is the “servant of Allah” and a mosque is the “house of Allah” as a way to honor them, likewise is it an added dignity for people to be acknowledged as existing in the “image of Allah.”

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Adam, from whom we are all descended, was originally created in the image of Allah and therefore we should honor all of his children. To honor human beings is to honor the creation of Allah. Even in the unfortunate case that fighting becomes necessary, a Muslim should still avoid disfiguring and mutilating his enemy’s face and body.

The pairing of the human image with Allah is an expression meant to bestow inherent dignity upon every human being, simply by virtue of their humanity.

We have certainly dignified the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided them with good things and preferred them over much of what We have created with decisive preference.

Surat al-Isra’ 17:70

We recognize that people are the creations of Allah and subsequently we are obligated to be merciful to the creation in general, even to the wicked as long as it is not at the expense of vulnerable victims.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Human beings also have the potential to be conduits for the beautiful attributes of Allah to manifest in creation. For instance, mercy is one of the beautiful attributes of Allah. When a person or even an animal shows compassion to another being, this is a result of the mercy of Allah in action.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Allah has made mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with himself and sent down one part to the earth. From that one part, the creation is merciful to each other such that a horse raises its hoof over its child for fear of trampling it.

Human beings in particular have the remarkable potential to achieve a union of will with Allah, through surrender to the teachings of His religion. This is not a union of essences, as Allah is unlike anything He created and cannot be compared to His creation. Rather, it is a union of purpose. A true servant of Allah is guided by the will of Allah, such that Allah is acting through them and benefiting the creation thereby.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Allah Almighty said: My servant continues to grow closer to me with extra good works until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks.

Hence, all people are created in the “image of Allah” at the start. They deserve to be dignified, honored, and treated fairly and compassionately just because they are human beings. In each person is the potential to bring his or her will into union with the will of Allah, and for this reason every human being has been sanctified and is worthy of our respect.